Question

In what circumstances is it ethical for public speakers to use emotional appeals when speaking to persuade? Are there any kinds of persuasive speeches in which emotional appeals are inappropriate? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

Answer and explanation:

Emotional appeals are ethically valid in persuasive speeches when the speaker wants to emphasize a specific matter that is relevant for the audience to understand. By showing anger, pity or fear the speaker tries to put into the audience's shoes but immediately after that exposes the solution to the possible problem.

However, there might be cases when emotional appeals could be taken too personal which turns the speech subjective. The speaker must avoid getting to that point otherwise the audience will be unlikely to identify themselves with what the speaker is trying to expose.